The Czech Republic is set to change its election system from two-day to one-day voting. According to a recent proposal by the Interior Ministry, polling stations would be open from 7pm to 10pm on a single day, Friday, instead of the current schedule of Friday 2pm to 10pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm. The change is set to take effect in 2026.

The Czech Republic is the last country in the European Union to have two-day elections. Slovakia, which used to have the same system, switched to one-day voting in 2006. The Interior Ministry also plans to set a fixed date for regional, local, and Senate elections, to be held on the Friday following the first Monday in October.

The amendment also proposes changes to the rules for the creation of election constituencies, which the ministry deems inflexible. The creation of a new information system for election administration and the possibility of applying for voting cards online are also part of the proposal.

The proposal will now be discussed by the two houses of parliament before it can become a law. If passed, the change could make elections easier and more cost-effective for some municipalities. The information system alone is estimated to cost CZK 200 million, with an annual running cost of CZK 20 million.

Article by Prague Forum